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France's Constitutional Council strikes down social media ban for minors
The French Constitutional Council has struck down a law that would have banned social media access for children under 15. Although the court acknowledged the state's obligation to protect minors from the harms of social media, it ruled that the general ban was disproportionate and violated fundamental rights to freedom of expression and communication.
Key legal concerns included the lack of distinction between different types of online services and the absence of adequate safeguards for age verification. The court noted that the proposed system could effectively require all users, including adults, to prove their age, potentially leading to excessive surveillance and privacy violations.
In response, President Emmanuel Macron has requested that the government draft a new, legally robust version of the bill, with the goal of completing the reform by the spring of 2027. Meanwhile, political figures like Gabriel Attal have suggested that the issue should be decided through a national referendum to give the French people a direct voice on the matter.
Entities
Conseil constitutionnel · Constitutional Council · Emmanuel Macron · France · French Constitutional Council · Gabriel Attal · Sébastien Lecornu
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 9 SOURCES] President Emmanuel Macron has requested a new, legally robust draft of the social media ban law. www.faz.net · www.votre-actualite.com · iguru.gr · www.bvoltaire.fr · www.notretemps.com · +4 more
- [● 6 SOURCES] The French Parliament had previously approved the social media ban in July. www.osul.com.br · www.afterdawn.com · www.redes-sociales.com · internautas.org · www.votre-actualite.com · +1 more
- [● 17 SOURCES] The French Constitutional Council struck down a law banning social media access for children under 15. www.faz.net · www.votre-actualite.com · dawn.fi · iguru.gr · www.osul.com.br · +12 more
- [● 5 SOURCES] Gabriel Attal has called for the social media ban to be decided via a national referendum. www.bvoltaire.fr · www.notretemps.com · fr.news.yahoo.com · www.faz.net · information.tv5monde.com
- [● 6 SOURCES] The President aims to complete the reform by the spring of 2027. www.faz.net · www.votre-actualite.com · iguru.gr · www.notretemps.com · www.redes-sociales.com · +1 more
- [● 11 SOURCES] The law failed to provide adequate legal safeguards for age verification and user privacy. dawn.fi · iguru.gr · www.osul.com.br · www.afterdawn.com · www.redes-sociales.com · +6 more
- [● 10 SOURCES] The court noted that the law would require all users, including adults, to prove their age. dawn.fi · www.osul.com.br · www.afterdawn.com · www.redes-sociales.com · www.faz.net · +5 more
- [● 18 SOURCES] The court ruled the ban violated freedom of expression and communication. www.faz.net · www.votre-actualite.com · dawn.fi · iguru.gr · www.osul.com.br · +13 more